Philippines challenges China over South China Sea at ASEAN meet

14 Sept 05:33 Key points summarised by AI

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directly challenged Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the ASEAN summit regarding recent escalating clashes in the South China Sea.
Marcos underscored that economic cooperation cannot be separated from political security, urging faster negotiations for a code of conduct in the contested waters.
Regional leaders expressed deep concern over the increasing frequency and intensity of incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels, fearing that an accident could escalate into conflict.
China's expansive claims and actions in the South China Sea, including the construction of artificial islands and alleged harassment of ships, remain a significant point of contention for several ASEAN members and the United States.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.